JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Black lawmakers say funding public schools and infrastructure projects at Mississippi's historically black universities is among their priorities as budget-writing moves into its final phases this session.

112 people have been arrested, charged, pleaded guilty or sentenced since Feb. 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- In a city where there are twice as many identified gang members as there are police officers, the announcement this week that seven Kansas City residents are facing federal gang-related charges might not seem like much.

The numbers are disturbing. There are more than half a million children in the foster care system in the United States, and African-Americans make up nearly 40 percent of that number. U.S. Census data shows Black children in foster care, especially older ones, are less likely than White children to be adopted.

The first truly controversial act of the new Texas Legislature came last week with the passage of SB 14, a new voter identification bill that would require any voter to present a state-issued photo ID - typically a driver's license - in order to vote. Proponents of the bill argue that such legislation is needed in order to protect the integrity of elections. Opponents, including some traditional civil rights organizations, fear that any such law will have a disproportionate impact on minorities, the elderly and disabled.